Switchpoint-type deflecting device

ABSTRACT

A switchpoint type of deflecting device for effecting the undisturbed distribution of continuously moving bodies which have been preliminarily deflected by a selecting station to different tracks or paths marked by special guide members. A distributing tongue prevents head-on collisions which would otherwise occur between a body and the stationary guide members as a result of insufficient preliminary deflection. The guide members are wedgeshaped with the pointed end serving to separate the individual paths, and are preceded by the vertically deflectable distributing or deflecting tongue, fitted at one end to the wedge-shaped end of the guide and pointed at the other end facing the selecting station, and whose top surface is doubly inclined downwards toward the pointed end and the deflection path side face. Urging of improperly deflected bodies in the proper direction, already begun by the selecting station, is furthered by the doubly-inclined top surface and spring-opposed downward movement of the tongue, and compulsorily completed by the guide. Properly deflected and undeflected bodies are not affected by the tongue.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Folker Galaske;

Helmut Wilhelm Schilling, Pj'orzheim, Germany [21] Appl. No. 773,521 [22] Filed Nov. 5, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee International Standard Electric Corporation New York, N.Y. a corporation of Delaware [32] Priority Nov. 30, 1967 [3 3] Germany [31] 1,556,261

[54] SWITCHPOINT-TYPE DEFLECTING DEVICE 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 197/18, 197/5 3 [51] Int. Cl B41j 7/00 [50] Field ofSearch l97/18, 53

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,369,433 2/1945 Casey 197/18X 3,355,001 11/1967 Reed et al 197/18 3,417,847 12/1968 Fleischer et al. 197/18 1/ I969 Kupfmuller 197/1 8X Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Att0rneysC. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J. Baum, Percy P.

Lantzy, Philip M. Bolton, Isidore Togut and Charles L. Johnson, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A switchpoint type of deflecting device for effecting the undisturbed distribution of continuously moving bodies which have been preliminarilydeflected by a selecting station to different tracks or paths marked by special guide members. A distributing tongue prevents head-on collisions which would otherwise occur between a body and the stationary guide members as a result of insufficient preliminary deflection. The guide members are wedge-shaped with the pointed end serving to separate the individual paths, and are preceded by the vertically deflectable distributing or deflecting tongue, fitted at one end to the wedge-shaped end of the guide and pointed at the other end facing the selecting station, and whose top surface is doubly inclined downwards toward the pointed end and the deflection path side face. Urging of improperly deflected bodies in the proper direction, already begun by the selecting station, is furthered by the doublyinclined top surface and spring-opposed downward movement of the tongue, and compulsorily completed by the guide. Properly deflected and undeflected bodies are not affected by the tongue.

switchpoint.

1 SWITCIIPOINT-TYPE mzrLEc'r uGpEvicE BACKGROUND OF THE rNvNTioN v This invention relatesto a switchpoint-ftype of deflecting device for the undisturbed distribution ofeontinuously moved bodies which have been deflected or redirected by a selecting station to different tracks marked by guiding means.

i In cases where a plurality of closely following bodies, traveling at a high natural speed, are supposedly. capable of being optionally distributed out of the continuous; movement to different tracks, it is no longer practical to perform the distribution via mechanically moved switchpoin'ts asya result of mass inertia problems, having a limited effect arising as the switchover time becomes shorter. 1 I

For this reason there is already in existence an arrangement by which an attempt is made to solve thiSjptbblem in such a way that the individual bodies,-by a corresponding previous magnetization are redirected from a normal track into another track, while passing through a magnetic: distributing station, and finally approach a stationary guidewhich'ischaracteristic of the new track, This guide which is arranged between the circular paths, is pointed, in the direction of the distributing station. To it there is partly attributed the function of. a

In such a type of arrangement, however, there exists the again via its projection l\by the action of a cam ,-and, is

danger that the bodies, when being insufficiently deflected and in spite of having a shuttle-shaped cross section, exactly hit the edge of the pointedly extending guide member which, unavoidably, would cause a considerable damage to the entire arrangement. These disadvantages can beavoided by the arrangement according to the invention. J

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ing mechanisms in which the types are-arranged infa ringorrim-shaped fashion and which, out'of the rotating movement,

are caused to hit a fixed platen. p

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE niiAwlNGs With respect to employment with such a printing mechanism, the device according to the invention will now be explained in detail with reference tothefollowing example of embodiment made in connection with FIGS. l'to 3 of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in a developed projection, the randomly controllable circular paths and the position of the device according to the invention in relation thereto, in a schematic representation; 1 V

FIG. 2 shows the deviceaccording tothe inventionin a sideview; and f 1 FIG, 3 shows the subject matteriof FIGJ-Z in a topview. DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGJ permits recognition of the, general arrangement of the inventive typeo'f devicev within the scope of a printing.

mechanism on the aforementioned principle. In the course of this, the bodies! to be disuibutedQdesignedas shuttle-shaped type lever projections,.approaeh the range of the distributing station Zalong the-normal circular path as indicated by the dot and dash line. The previously marked or selected type lever projection, in thecoursebf -this,suffersa deflection in directiontowards the path or track indicated by the dash line and, when properly defl'ect'e'd,'will come to lie against the upper sliding surface of the schematically shown distributing tongue 3 in the course of the further operation, with the distributing tongue 3 beingfollowed by the .guide member designed asa .printing cam.'At point P there is effected the printing. The reboundingtype lever is intercepted returned to its normal circular path.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the device according to the inven on in detail. 3

As the shuttle-shaped bodies 1, designed e.g. as type lever projections move into-the range of the circular path in the direction as indicated by the arrow A, the deflecting device, substantially consisting of the parts 3 and 4 projects in such a way as not to have an influence upon those. of the bodies 1 which either follow the normal circular path as indicated in FIG. 3 by the dot and dash line, or which have been properly deflected into the path as indicated by the dotted line.

It may also happen, however, that a body I, owing to a faulty control, follows the path. which is shown by the dash line in FIG. 3, in the course of which it would exactly meet upon the pointed end of the guide separating the two paths (tracks).

In order to avoid, in such a case, a damaging of the equipment, the deflecting device according the invention is provided. It substantially consists of the distributing tongue 3 which is arranged ahead of the stationary guide member 4, and which is mounted to a flat spring 7 which is held in position on one side, as shown in FIG. 2, and is retained thereby in the shown normal position. For the purpose of trapping transverse forces, the tongue 3is supported in a guide 6 permittingthe tongue to perform only a vertical movement in opposition to the action of the flat spring 7, which is restricted by a limiting stop 8'. v

The tongue 3*which, accordin'g'to FIG. 3, has a pointed end, is designed at its opposite end to have a width corresponding to the guide member 4. The two oppositely lying face surfaces 3a and 4a of the parts 3 and 4 extend in a closely adjacent manner and parallel in relation'to one another at an acute angle in relation to their longitudinal extension, so that there will result a' wedge-shaped overlapping. From this overlapping range towards the pointed end 30, the tongue 3 is inclined downwards, whereas the surface 3d is inclined downwards in the direction of'the longer longitudinal edge-3b.

If now, in the course of the track or path as indicated by'the dash line in FIG. 3, the body 1- meets in a direct line, via the point end 30, upon the doubly inclined surface 3d of the distributing tongue .3, the latter will be pusheddownwardly, on one .hand,-in the direction indicated by the arrow B by the-ac? .tion of .the body 1 "meeting thereupon. At the same time, however, the tongue 3 'is'acted upon by the pressure of the flat spring 7 and, via the surface 3d which is'downwardly inclined towards the longitudinal edge 31:, exposes the body 1 to a transversely actingpower component attempting to press the body 1 into the intended path (track). However, since this is only effected partly, the face sides 34' and 4a'of the parts 3'and 4 are arranged at acute angles, so that the body 1, in the course of its further movement, and owing to the pressed down tongue 3, will come to lie agains't'the face side 40 ,of the 1 of the edge 4b'of guide member 4.

We claim:-

I. Aaswitchpoint type deflecting device for a distributing apparatus comprising:

a distributing station for'deflecting-a preselected one of a number of moving bodies-from a first path toward another path;

stationary 'guidrmember means having a wedge-shaped face for'guiding said one deflected body into said other path; ancl r distributing means preceding said stationary guide member means including a vertically deflectable pointed tongue extension having a wedge-shaped face mated to said guide means and having a doubly inclined top surface sloping downwards towards the said pointed end and said second path.

2. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 1 in which said distributing means further includes a flat spring fixed at one end and having said tongue extension mounted to the free end thereof, whereby the vertical deflection of said tongue extension is in opposition to said flat spring.

3. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 2 in which said distributing means further includes a guide positioned to have said tongue extension rest therein so as to permit only vertical movement of saidtongue extension.

4. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 3 in which said tongue extension has a longitudinal edge adjacent to said first path for maintaining the undeflected moving bodies therein.

5. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 4 in which said stationary guide member has a longitudinal edge adjacent to said first path so as to further maintain the undeflected moving bodies therein.

6. A switchpoint type deflection device according to claim 5 in which said flat spring has a limit stop restricting the vertical stroke of said tongue extension. 

1. A switchpoint type deflecting device for a distributing apparatus comprising: a distributing station for deflecting a preselected one of a number of moving bodies from a first path toward another path; stationary guide member means having a wedge-shaped face for guiding said one deflected body into said other path; and distributing means preceding said stationary guide member means including a vertically deflectable pointed tongue extension having a wedge-shaped face mated to said guide means and having a doubly inclined top surface sloping downwards towards the said pointed end and said second path.
 2. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 1 in which said distributing means further includes a flat spring fixed at one end and having said tongue extension mounted to the free end thereof, whereby the vertical deflection of said tongue extension is in opposition to said flat spring.
 3. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 2 in which said distributing means further includes a guide positioned to have said tongue extension rest therein so as to permit only vertical movement of said tongue extension.
 4. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 3 in which said tongue extension has a longitudinal edge adjacent to said first path for maintaining the undeflected moving bodies therein.
 5. A switchpoint type deflecting device according to claim 4 in which said stationary guide member has a longitudinal edge adjacent to said first path so as to further maintain the undeflected moving bodies therein.
 6. A switchpoint type deflection device according to claim 5 in which said flat spring has a limit stop restricting the vertical stroke of said tongue extension. 